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Last updated: : 13 January 2006
Ongoing employment – Recruitment and related issues
Please note: This document is no longer current and is provided for reference purposes only.
Frequently Asked Questions
17. Are there any limitations on who can be included in a selection committee?
Other than in relation to the Commissioner’s representative on SES selection panels (see our Circular 2005/6: Improving Senior Executive Selection Processes) there are no specific requirements relating to the composition of a selection committee should an agency decide to use one. It is good practice for any committee used to assess applicants to reflect a diverse range of opinions and experience in order to select the most suitable applicant.
Committee members do not have to be APS employees, but must be aware of the legislative framework governing recruitment and selection in the APS, in particular the APS Values and the need to avoid patronage and favouritism.
The delegate may be on the selection committee. This can save time and reduce communication and reporting costs.
If a committee member has a relationship outside of the immediate work environment with an applicant or is supervising, or providing information on, an applicant, care needs to be taken that there is no conflict of interest, perceived bias (negative or positive) or patronage or favouritism.
If a committee member has a relationship with an applicant that might give rise to a conflict of interest, it should be declared to all committee members (or to the delegate if the person is making the declaration). It should then be decided whether the committee member should stand aside from the whole process or from consideration of the particular candidate.
If a committee member needs to provide comments on an applicant, this can usually be managed by the member providing the comments before accessing information on other applicants, and making other committee members aware of the particular circumstances.
